Programme Manager

About the role 

The Programme Manager will provide administrative management of programmes across Undergraduate & Postgraduate programmes. This will include timetabling, clinical scheduling, data management, improvement projects and student and academic enquiry management. The post may be subject to line management responsibilities in the future.  As well as these other duties, the post will also drive the functional leadership and specialist oversight of assessment delivery across the Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, primarily for undergraduate provision and, where required, postgraduate taught provision.

Working within a generalist Education Operations structure, the postholder will coordinate assessment activity delivered by Programme Officers &  Senior Programme Officers, ensuring consistent, accurate and timely delivery across the assessment lifecycle in accordance with University regulations, Faculty requirements and agreed standards.

In this functional leadership role, the postholder will be ultimately accountable for the smooth delivery of practical & written assessments, and act as the principal point of specialist advice & escalation for assessment administration, supporting effective planning, use of resources and resolution of complex cases. They will work closely with students, academic and professional services colleagues and central teams to implement policy and process changes, provide specialist advice and training, respond to feedback and continuously improve the quality and consistency of assessment services.

The balance of responsibilities will respond to changing operational priorities, while maintaining effective senior oversight of assessment delivery. 

This is a full-time post, and you will be offered an indefinite contract.

About you

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills & experience: 

Essential criteria

1. Substantial experience of coordinating and delivering complex written & practical assessment processes within a higher-education environment, across the assessment lifecycle from planning and preparation through to marks, examination boards, progression and awards. 
2. Strong knowledge and practical understanding of higher-education assessment regulations, policies and quality-assurance requirements, with the ability to interpret and apply them confidently to complex operational cases. 
3. Experience of leading, coordinating or directing the work of others, including setting expectations, allocating activity, monitoring delivery, standardising processes and services and supporting colleagues to develop their knowledge & capability. 
4. Demonstrable ability to plan and manage complex, time-critical activity involving multiple programmes, stakeholders, dependencies and limited resources, while maintaining accuracy and service continuity. 
5. Ability to analyse and use data, evidence & operational constraints to make sound decisions, explain recommendations and constructively influence senior academic and professional services colleagues. 
6. Excellent communication and relationship-management skills, with the confidence to provide authoritative advice, manage competing expectations and work effectively with students, academics, examiners &  professional services colleagues. 
7. Experience of identifying risk, resolving complex problems and leading improvements to processes, guidance or service delivery, while maintaining accurate, secure and confidential records. 
8. Demonstrable commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, with the ability to apply inclusive principles to service delivery, decision-making, communication and the student and staff experience.

Desirable criteria

1. Experience of assessment delivery within a health-related faculty or similarly complex professional education environment, including working with clinical academics, NHS colleagues or professional & regulatory requirements. 
2. Experience of coordinating practical or clinical assessments, such as OSCEs, and/or large-scale computer-based examinations  
3. Experience of internal and external examiner processes, standard setting, assessment sub-boards and progression or award decision-making. 
4. Experience of wider programme-management activity, such as student & academic enquiries, timetabling, clinical scheduling, student-records data or service-improvement projects. 
5. Degree-level qualification or equivalent professional experience relevant to higher-education administration, assessment or programme management. 

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